No. 2 Villanova begins quest for Big East title versus St. John's (Mar 09, 2017)
For the fourth season in a row, No. 2 Villanova earned the top seed in the Big East tournament.
The Wildcats attempt to capture their third Big East tournament title when they face No. 8 seed St. John's on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Red Storm (14-18), who defeated ninth-seeded Georgetown 74-73 in the opening round Wednesday night, were swept in both matchups against the Wildcats this season.
Villanova won its second conference tournament title in 2015 but fell 69-67 to Seton Hall in the 2016 championship game. However, the Wildcats responded by winning six straight games on their way to the program's second national championship.
"I would have much rather have won it (last year) and be dealing with the challenge of doing it again," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "The only positive of not winning it is the guys are hungry.
"We try to make them hungry even if they do win, but the guys know that we got beat last year. We got beat by a team, Seton Hall, who played better. We know we have to go up there and play our best basketball."
Villanova finished the regular season with a 28-3 record and its fourth straight Big East regular season championship.
In their regular season finale Saturday, the Wildcats blitzed host Georgetown, 81-55. Senior forward Darryl Reynolds returned to their lineup and gave them a lift after missing the previous five games with a rib injury.
"We had two really good practices," Wright said. "We took Sunday off, had two great practices and we have everybody healthy. I think we're in as good as shape as we can be. I like where their heads are. We're on spring break, so they're really concentrating on basketball right now. So far, so good."
Preseason National Player of the Year candidate Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins will be playing their final conference tournament along with Reynolds in the so-called World's Most Famous Arena. Hart and Jenkins combined for 40 points in the win over the Hoyas on Saturday.
"I just don't think there is any conference in the country that has the intensity and passion in the stands like the Garden," Wright said. "I don't feel teams get after it in conference play like they do in the Big East. There's some vibe being in the Garden, being in Manhattan, the Big East, the physicality. I watch all of the other games, they're great. But there's something unique about the Garden, especially if you make it to Friday or Saturday.
"Friday or Saturday night in New York City at the Garden, the intensity is off the charts."
Shamorie Ponds led St. John's with 17 points while Bashir Ahmed added 14 and Malik Ellison had 11 points and eight rebounds Wednesday.
"It's a huge win for my guys," St. John's coach Chris Mullin told Fox Sports 1 after the game. "I'm happy for them."
Ponds, an All-Big East Freshman Team selection, helped the Red Storm advance in the Big East tournament for the first time since 2011. Ponds was named Freshman of the Week five times this season.
"I just have a lot of confidence in myself," Ponds told FS1.
